Fithly, Thoreau was a man of principle, but also a man of privilege. He could afford to break the law and go to jail because he had friends who supported him and bailed him out. He did not have to fear losing his job, his family or his life. He also did not think about the impact of his crime on others who might suffer even more than he did. How can we balance our individual rights and responsibilities with our social duties and responsibilities? How can we stand up for ourselves without harming others?